help with Aircat air ratchet issue, repair...

[lmorris]

My air ratchet, Aircat AC802R, started doing something weird yesterday. In reverse, when there is not load or resistance on a fastener it stops turning. Put it on a tight fastener or one that has some resistance and it works fine. In forward there is no concern. Anyone have much experience or knowledge of repairing these. I took the head apart and it looks fine didn't tear it right down to the ratcheting mechanism though. Could it just be sticky in the one direction. If so, what is a good lube for the heads. There is nothing listed in my papers for the tool. Oil seems to light and bearing grease seems to heavy. Would PTFE lubricant be sufficient?

[Keith Browning]

Assuming this air ratchet is like any other wrench, those heads need some tension on them to work properly. I don't think they are supposed to be lubed. I might suspect wear is beginning to cause your ratchet to be like that. I know my Snap-On ratchets do that after a few years. My Snappy dealer cleans the head and shims the head to give it tension/resistance and they work like new again... only to gradually wear and loosen again.

[DwayneGorniak]

Some air ratchets do take grease just like some impacts take grease. However, you want to make sure that you actually use "Air Tool Grease" and not just a Molly based grease. Molly based greases are too thick and eventually dry up and will slow your tool down.

 

Your air ratchet most likely has a worn out thrust washer or even possibly a ratchet housing. Sometimes with this design the ratchet housing unit which is #2 in this schematic http://www.aircat.com/core/files/aircat/products/d35c992f2efd99d2260cbd20ee72a4ea.pdf will spread and will not have enough preload to allow the anvil gear to turn properly. #6 and 7B are the thrust washers and wave spring washers which I replace allot of. They are always the first items to wear and are most likely worn out on your ratchet. Just be sure to check the head (#2) for wear as well.

 

This style of head only requires air tool oil for lubrication in the head once in a while.

 

You can order these parts through your local Mac Tools Distributor. Our Part numbers are AR802-35 for the Ratchet Housing and then you have to buy an anvil repair kit to get the washers which is a part number of AR199Q-AK. The issue is that this repair kit is $62.99 and the housing is $53.99. Hopefully you only need a repair kit and not a housing because you could buy a comparable air ratchet from your Mac Guy for approx $150.00.

[Keith Browning]

It's nice havin a tool guy around eh?

[lmorris]

Thanks for the info. There is a wave washer similar to those in auto transmissions in there that looks good. I had to compress it to get the snap ring back in place. With the PTFE lube it seems to be better. I think I will take it apart again and use air tool oil on assembly. The two little springs under the little balls did seem a little sticky, maybe that is the issue. Again thanks.